Broadwater County Fair Book
4-H and FFA Exhibitors Hand Book
Fair Entry dealine - July 9th
No Late Entries Accepted!
2024 4-H & FFA Fair Schedule
Tuesday, July 9 Fair entries due online in FairEntry (closes at 11:00 pm). NO LATE ENTRIES ACCEPTED.
Livestock project books and seven activities for market livestock projects due to the Extension Office.
Monday, July 29
5:30 PM Livestock Committee Meets
6:00 PM All members report to Fairgrounds to set up Livestock Building and Indoor Exhibit Building Livestock Project Interviews begin.
Tuesday, July 30
8:30 AM 4-H Indoor Judges Training
9:00 AM 4-H Indoor exhibits and all Animal Educational Displays judged in the Commercial Building
12:00 PM 4-H Indoor Silent Auction Form Due
1:00 PM 4-H Horse Show
6:30 PM 4-H Dog Show
Thursday, August 1
8:00 AM Barn Opens
8:30 AM - 11:00 AM Market Animal Weigh-in. All Animals Arrive.
9:00 AM Lamb & Goat Ultrasound
11:30 AM All County 4-H Members Assemble for Group Photo under the Pavilion
Mandatory Youth Livestock Exhibitor & Parent/Guardian Meeting
1:00 PM 4-H & FFA Small Animals Show (Cat, Pocket Pets, & Rabbits)
3:00 PM 4-H & FFA Poultry Show
Friday, August 2
8:00 AM 4-H & FFA Hog Show – Photos following show.
1:00 PM 4-H & FFA Sheep & Goat Show – Photos following show.
5:00 PM 4-H Rabbit Agility – Under the Entertainment Tent
Saturday, August 3
8:00 AM 4-H & FFA Beef Show – Photos following show.
10:30 AM 4-H & FFA Round Robin Showmanship
3:00 PM 4-H & FFA Buyers’ Appreciation Dinner
3:30 PM 4-H & FFA Sale Announcements & Recognition (including Indoor Awards)
4:00 PM 4-H & FFA Market Livestock Sale
Sunday, August 4
3:00 PM 4-H & FFA Animal Exhibits Released.
Animals loaded after this time. – Keep alleyways clear to allow the Livestock Committee to facilitate loading and ensure safety.
3:30 PM 4-H Indoor Silent Auction Closes
4:00 PM 4-H & FFA Indoor Exhibits released. Must be picked up.
Indoor Exhibit Cleanup - Clubs must have representatives at the Exhibit Building to help move risers.
Monday, August 5
9:00 AM Livestock Barn Clean Up
Directions on How to Enter the Fair using FairEntry
STEP 1: Go to http://broadwater.fairentry.com to access the sign in page.
STEP 2: CREATE AN ACCOUNT- Everyone will have to make a FairEntry account this year, because we are no longer using 4HOnline!
1. FIRST TIME – Click on the link to create a FairEntry Account. DO NOT enter using 4HOnline. (After that, if you are logging back in, enter the email & password that you created and click “Sign in.”)
2. Enter your email address twice and click Create Account. IMPORTANT: This must be a valid email address, so that you can receive the necessary confirmation messages.
3. On the Account Creation page, the information requested (all fields are required): Account Name, Phone, Password (enter twice to confirm). Click Create Account.
STEP 3: BEGIN REGISTRATION – Click Begin Registration
STEP 4: SELECT INDIVIDUAL
STEP 5: CREATING ENTRIES
Each exhibitor can have multiple entries. ONE ENTRY MUST BE MADE FOR EACH ANIMAL AND/OR CLASS, ETC.
DON’T SUBMIT ANY ENTRIES UNTIL YOU HAVE ENTERED ALL EXHIBITS FOR EVERY FAMILY MEMBER.
1. Click ADD AN ENTRY beside the correct exhibitor (if more than one has been created).
2. Click SELECT beside the first department you wish to enter.
3. After you select a department, you will see a list of divisions to select from, and then a list of available classes. Also notice that there are blue Change links in case you mistakenly select an incorrect department, division, or class.
4. After you have selected the class, click the green CONTINUE button.
5. If this is an animal class entry, you may be required to specify which animal will be exhibited in this class.
6. Fill in all the fields with information about the animal you intend to exhibit. Click CREATE and ADD ANIMAL when finished.
7. When each class entry is complete, you have 3 choices of what to do next:
a. If all class entries have been completed for one exhibitor, you can REGISTER ANOTHER EXHIBITOR, in this family.
b. If this exhibitor has more class entries to make, you can ADD ANOTHER ENTRY FOR THIS EXHIBITOR.
c. If ALL entries for ALL exhibitors in the family have been completed, click CONTINUE TO PAYMENT to finalize and submit your entries. This step MUST be completed to proceed.
8. Review your entries for completeness and accuracy. Notice the SUMMARY and DETAIL buttons at the top of the list on the right. If there are errors, click on the green ENTRIES section at the top of the page. Click CONTINUE when all information is correct.
9. Even though we do not have an entry fee, you must click CONTINUE to the last CONFIRM step to submit.
10. Click SUBMIT to finalize the entries for all the exhibitors in this family. After you click SUBMIT, no changes are possible to these entries.
11. If you realize you have changes after you hit SUBMIT, contact the Extension Office at 406.266.9242.
If you have any other questions, please contact the Extension Office. We are happy to help!
1. Entries are open to all 4-H and FFA members in good standing in Broadwater County. Member must be enrolled during the current year in the project or SAE in which exhibits are entered.
2. Deadline for entry forms: All entries must be entered in Fair Entry (See page 4) by 11:00 PM on Tuesday, July 9th.
3. All market livestock entries must include project books and supporting documentation for completion of seven activities. Books and supporting documentation are due to the Extension Office by 5:00 PM on Fair entry deadline.
4. No late entries, project books or activities will be accepted!
ENTRY TIMES
1. Indoor exhibits and all animal educational displays will be judged using an interview process on Tuesday of Fair week. A schedule will be sent out prior to the Fair.
2. Members who cannot be at the Fair but wish to exhibit indoor entries or animal educational displays must have their exhibits delivered to the Commercial Building by 9:00 AM on Tuesday of Fair Week to be judged. A written statement must accompany the exhibit that includes what was learned in the project and any other relevant information. Please notify the Extension Office as soon as possible if you won’t be at the Fair.
3. All livestock exhibits will be accepted on Thursday of Fair week until 11:00 AM.
4. Market animal(s) must be weighed from 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM on Thursday or the animal(s) will not be permitted to show at the Fair. Tags must be clean and legible.
RELEASE OF EXHIBITS
1. All indoor 4-H and FFA exhibits must remain on display until 4:00 PM on Sunday, August 4th and livestock must be on display until 3:00 pm. Exhibitors may start loading animals after 3:00 pm.
2. Exhibitors will clean the area used for their exhibits and check out with the Livestock Committee before leaving the grounds or forfeit all premiums and awards. A $75 fee will be assessed to livestock members who do not help set up and take down the pens in the barn.
LIABILITY
1. Judge(s), 4-H leader(s), Extension Agent, FFA Advisor, and any other personnel conducting events will not be held responsible for the loss, damage, or injury to any exhibit during the progress of the fair or while traveling to or from the fair. However, due care and caution will be exercised to prevent loss or damage.
JUDGING CRITERIA
1. All exhibits will be judged using a modified Danish system for awards based on quality compared to ideal standards. The groups will be designated by colored ribbons – purple, blue, red, and white.
2. The decision of the judge is final. No appeal will be considered.
GRIEVANCES
1. Those having a grievance with the rules and proceedings of the 4-H & FFA Division of Fair must submit, in writing, their concerns to the Grievance Committee within 24 hours of incident. Problems and requests should be routed through the appropriate channels to the responsible person prior to filing a grievance. Suggestions aimed at improving policies and procedures will be accepted by the Extension Office after the Fair.
2. If the grievance concerns judging or placings, it will not be accepted. Judges are asked to judge classes at Fair, and it is understood in doing so, we are asking for their opinion.
3. A written statement of grievance shall be filed within 24 hours. It should include date of incident, name(s) of people filing, complete statement describing the incident, any policies and procedures violated, and list of names and phone numbers of people involved and their role.
4. The Grievance Committee will consist of the Extension Agent and two or more of the following people: Livestock Committee Member, Indoor Committee Member, Club Leader, Fair Manager, or FFA Advisor. The FFA Advisor must be involved with any grievance involving an FFA entry.
5. The decision of the local Grievance Committee will be final. Grievances involving 4-H members can be appealed to the Montana 4-H Center for Youth Development. See state policy for details.
PREMIUM MONEY
1. Subject to the governing rules, premiums will be paid on all ribbon awards. Premiums will not be awarded to exhibits which are removed early.
2. Premium rates are $3.00 for purple or blue ribbons, $2.00 for red ribbons, and $1.00 for white ribbons.
1. Livestock classes are open to both 4-H and FFA members in good standing. All 4-H/FFA livestock entries will be combined for judging and awards.
2. Showmanship is a required class for market, breeding and dairy projects.
3. All animals housed in the Livestock Building at Fair must be entered in the Fair including buddy animals. Animals not entered in the Fair will not be permitted in the building. Buddy animals are permitted to go on the trucks to processors after Fair if there are enough processor slots and at the discretion of the Livestock Committee. Confirm processor choices with the Livestock Committee.
4. Members exhibiting market and breeding animals are required to attend Livestock Quality Assurance training prior to fair entry deadline.
5. All exhibitors in livestock events must show, care for, fit and clean their own animals and stalls with minimal assistance. Minimal assistance for a learning purpose or safety issue is acceptable. Excessive involvement by others could lead to consequences for the exhibitor to be determined by the Livestock Committee, FFA Advisor, and/or Extension Agent.
6. All Exhibitors must show their own livestock unless they have more than one animal entered in the class. In that case, another 4-H/FFA member entered in the county fair may show the extra animal.
7. Exhibitor numbers must be visible every time they enter the ring.
8. All Market Steers, Swine, Lambs, and Goats must have ear tags for the Broadwater County Fair, issued by the 4-H Livestock Committee. Tags need to be clean and legible at Fair. Market rabbits and poultry must have an identification form on file with the Extension Office by June 25th.
9. Exhibitors must furnish their own feed and bring enough to sustain the animal through Sunday afternoon. All feed must be stored outside of the barn in trailers or designated spaces. Members are responsible for feeding their own animals for biosecurity reasons.
10. Animals showing signs of sickness, disease or parasites will be removed from the building at the discretion of the Livestock Committee, Extension Agent and/or FFA Advisor.
11. Exhibitors are responsible for following and adhering to legal withdrawal times for any substances given to an animal prior to or during the Fair. Notify the Extension Agent, FFA Advisor or Livestock Committee immediately if a substance must be administered and the Livestock Sale is within the legal withdrawal time. As a condition of participation in the county fair, the participant also agrees to submit to Broadwater County Fair, at their discretion, any animal entered for immediate testing. Participants agree that the conclusions reached by the Broadwater County Livestock Committee shall be final. Residues found during the carcass inspections may result in the member forfeiting any sale receipts and premiums.
12. Dress code for all classes is as follows:
a. 4-H Members - Long-sleeved, collared, button or snap-front shirts in any color. Pants must be dark blue or black. No faded jeans. Shirt must be tucked in. Tie is optional. When showing an animal with hooves, leather boots or sturdy shoes in clean condition are required. Clean tennis shoes are acceptable in the rabbit and poultry classes. No open-toed shoes or hats are allowed in animal classes. White attire is preferred for dairy classes. Horse project members see dress code under Horse Division.
b. FFA Members – Official dress of black pants, white collared shirt, tie and FFA jacket required.
13. Broadwater County Fair reserves the right to question the alteration of any animal’s physical or physiological structure as well as any suspected health conditions. As a condition of participation in the county fair, the participant agrees to submit to Broadwater County Fair, at their discretion, any animal entered for immediate testing. Tests may include, but not be limited to blood, tissue, fecal and urine. Participant further agrees that the conclusions reached by the Broadwater County Livestock Committee shall be final, without recourse against the Broadwater County Fair. A participant of any animal(s) producing an analysis with a prohibited substance, sabotage, tampering, unethical fitting, or inhumane practices will be barred from future competition at the county fair.
14. The Broadwater County 4-H Livestock Committee reserves the right to question any suspected issues prior to Fair. Animals may also be inspected in the trailer upon arrival to the Fairgrounds by the Livestock Committee, Extension Agent, FFA Advisor or Veterinarian. Any animals displaying unhealthy conditions such as a communicable disease or internal parasites will not be permitted into the barn.
15. Exhibitors and families must park in designated parking areas.
16. Livestock Committee, FFA Advisor and Extension Agent have the right to remove an animal from a class or the Fair if it is a safety issue. This includes the Round Robin contest.
17. A mandatory Exhibitors’ Meeting will be held Thursday of Fair week. A parent or legal guardian must attend.
18. Barn Monitoring: Each exhibitor is responsible for taking care of his or her animals' feed, water, and general care. Barn duty is assigned to each family during the fair and is designed to recognize an animal in trouble or need. Due to biosecurity reasons, animals are to be fed and watered by their owners ONLY! Do not share feed pans, water buckets, misters, etc. If a concern or need is recognized while you are on barn duty, please contact a Livestock Committee member, FFA Advisor or Extension Agent to address the situation.
19. If barn space is limited, exhibitors may be restricted to one or two animals per species in the barn and/or requested to show from the trailer.
20. Exhibitors may enter up to five (5) entries in the animal educational display class per division. Animal educational displays will be judged on Tuesday of Fair week at the same time as indoor interviews. 4-H members may enter displays into the 4-H Indoor Silent Auction as long as the items are a quality usable exhibit (such as an animal byproduct). No food or live animals can be sold through the 4-H Indoor Silent Auction.
1. All exhibitors with market livestock projects are required to participate in an interview on Monday during Fair setup. Bring an up-to-date record book to the interview.
2. Participants in the Livestock Sales are required to have completed their record books for their respective organizations during the previous year. If livestock record books were not completed, members are ineligible to sell. Any participant wishing to appeal that decision can do so by presenting their appeal, in person, to the Livestock Committee at any regularly scheduled meeting.
3. All exhibitors must be present to setup and take down the livestock barn. If an exhibitor is unable to attend, a representative who can do the work may come in their place. Exhibitor or appointed representative must check-in within 15 minutes of start time and stay until excused. Failure of an exhibitor or appointed person to attend and/or check in within the appropriate time will result in a $75 fee deducted from the sale check. Fee applies to both setup and take down. The Livestock Committee will be responsible for keeping track of those who help.
4. All animals will be weighed at the official fair weigh-in. This weight is the official sale weight. If animals did not make weight, the exhibitor may reweigh the animal one time prior to the end of the designated weigh-in period.
5. If animals do not meet the minimum weight requirements, they will be automatically transferred to the feeder class. If, in the opinion of the judge, an animal is not finished sufficiently to meet current market standards, the judge shall place the animal in the feeder class even though it may meet the minimum weight requirements for the fair.
6. Only animals meeting market qualifications will be included in the sale. No feeder or white ribbon animals will be sold.
7. Exhibitors may weigh in two animals per species. However, exhibitors may only sell one animal per species with a maximum of two (2) species including market poultry and rabbit pens. If a member shows two animals of the same species, the animal with the highest placing ribbon will sell. If the animals have the same ribbon placing, the heaviest animal will sell unless designated otherwise by notifying the Livestock Committee prior to Saturday of Fair.
8. The Broadwater County 4-H Livestock Committee will provide third-party insurance that covers all market animals including feeders in transit to Fair and while animals are on the Fairgrounds. The cost of this insurance will be deducted from the sale checks. The insurance covers all animals going to processors until slaughter. It does not cover animals going home after they leave the Fairgrounds. The insurance covers death and crippling. The insurance covers the market value of that animal which will be compensated to the exhibitor prior to the sale or the buyer after the sale. The Livestock Committee may authorize above market value at the discretion of the committee.
9. Animals are subject to a level of risk after Fair during a short wait period under slaughter and in transit to processing facilities. Additionally, animals may be subject to slaughter inspections at state and federally inspected processing facilities. If an animal dies after the sale or condemned at slaughter, the buyer will be reimbursed market value, unless due to neglect of the exhibitor, at which time the full purchase price will be reimbursed by the exhibitor. Buyers may be given the option of a replacement animal, if available.
10. The Livestock Committee will provide a professional photo for all market livestock animals with the exhibitor. The photo and a written thank you should be delivered or mailed directly to the buyer immediately following the sale. A list of buyers will be available at the Extension Office.
11. The livestock sale will start with the Grand Champion and Reserve Champion of each species rotating between species in the sale order every year. The sale order will then proceed to purple, blue, and red ribbon animals. Sale order will be randomly selected by the computer program within the ribbon colors.
12. Animals awarded a white ribbon will not be sold at the livestock sale.
13. Exhibitor(s) may sell feeder class animals by private treaty but are responsible for arranging for picture(s) and delivery at the end of fair.
14. All sales checks shall be made out to “4-H Livestock Committee”. The Livestock Committee will in turn, within a reasonable period, issue checks to Market Livestock Exhibitors, less any fees.
A 3.5% commission fee will be deducted from all market livestock sales. This fee will pay for sale expenses (i.e. buyers’ pictures, thank you ad, transportation of animals, etc.).
1. Showmanship is a required class for participation in livestock shows.
2. Grand Champion in Beef, Dairy Cattle, Sheep, Dairy Goat, Meat Goat, Swine, Poultry, Rabbit, and Horse will be required to show each type of animal in the Round Robin Competition. No exhibitor shall be allowed to bring more than one type of animal into the Round Robin Competition (refer to Round Robin Rules below).
3. Showmanship will be divided into three divisions according to age as of October 1: Super-Starter for ages 8-9. Junior Division for ages 10-13 and Senior Division for 14-18. Super-Starters do not qualify for Round Robin.
4. An exhibitor must show an animal enrolled in that project in the Showmanship Contest.
5. Showmanship will be based on personal appearance of the exhibitor, appearance of animal, knowledge of animal and species, and handling of animal. Type of animal should not be considered unless it affects the way the animal should be fitted and shown.
1. ELIGIBILITY: Exhibitor must be at least 10 years old. Super-Starters are not eligible for Round Robin.
2. The Grand Champion in the Junior and Senior Division of each class will compete in Round Robin. The competition consists of Beef, Dairy Cattle, Sheep, Dairy Goat, Meat Goat, Swine, Rabbit, Poultry, and Horse.
3. If an exhibitor cannot participate in the Round Robin, they are to notify the Livestock Committee as soon as possible so the second-place exhibitor can take their place in the competition.
4. If an exhibitor wins showmanship honors in more than one species, they may select the species they wish to represent. The reserve winner in the other species will represent that species in the Round Robin contest.
5. Exhibitor must bring their own showmanship qualifying animal to Round Robin. Exceptions: An animal that is not well behaved or poses an undue risk to the other exhibitors will be replaced, but must be approved by the Livestock Committee, FFA Advisor, and/or Extension Agent in advance of the contest.
Department:
- 4-H/FFA Livestock
- 4-H/FFA Horse
- 4-H/FFA Small Animals
- 4-H Indoor Exhibits
- Engineering and Technology
- Environmental & Natural Sciences
- Family & Consumer Sciences
- Plant & Animal Sciences
- Communication & Expressive Arts
- Leadership & Personal Development
- Foods & Nutrition
- FFA Indoor Exhibits
